A Traveler’s-Eye View

Your responses show that federal travelers have to contend with the same challenges other business travelers do: cramped airline seats, delays, paperwork and time away from family. But as federal travelers, you feel insult is added to injury in the form of red tape, per diem limits, airline contracts and overall second-class treatment.

Yet among you are those who look on the bright side, appreciating the chance to see places and meet people you might otherwise never have. We offer our thanks to the 1,416 federal travelers who took the time to complete the survey and to share their experiences. In the coming months, we'll publish several articles in which we offer more of your opinions and insights.

Thanks also to Government Executive staff members Jackie Poucher and Chawndese Hylton for their assistance in tabulating the survey results.

Picks and Pans
Most of you have a love-hate relationship with business travel. Here is a sampling of the common perks and peeves.

Love It!

• Visiting new places.
• Meeting new people; getting face-to-face with customers, clients, etc.
• Getting out of the office.
• No penalty for changing plane tickets or making last-minute reservations.
  

• Travel during personal time.
• No choices in air travel (such as connections, flight times) because of airline contracts.
• No frequent flier miles.
• Lodging and meal limits too low.
• No first-class travel, especially on long flights.
• The worst seats on the airplane; the worst rooms in the hotel.
• Staying in military quarters.
• Being away from home and family.
• Paperwork and complicated voucher process.

Feds on Tour

Almost 80 percent of you average two to five nights away from home when you travel for business. But more than 12 percent leave home for five nights or more.

Most of you travel for conferences, site visits, meetings and training. Some of you travel to provide disaster relief, conduct ocean surveys, examine crash sites and mine fires, litigate and perform other intriguing tasks.

Almost 60 percent think government travelers get a raw deal compared with private-sector business travelers. Forty percent think federal travelers get comparable service.

Experienced travelers have lots of wisdom to share about making trips go smoothly. Top tips include:

• Double-check all reservations.
• Plan ahead.
• Be flexible; don't stress out when things go wrong.
• Get to the airport early.
• Pack light and carry on your bags.
• Exercise, get plenty of sleep and carry snacks with you.